crop

Wheat

Small grain cereals, such as wheat (Triticum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), oat (Avena sativa), triticale (secundaire Triticale) and rye (Ecale cereale), comprise a unique group of crops originating from the Middle East, including the Fertile Crescent. These crops historically supported the earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt and are presently still among the most important staples for human beings. They are also major feed crops for livestock, and the grains are important materials for beverage production and other industrial applications.

Wheat varieties are separated into winter- and spring-flowering stimulus, soft or hard grain, and red or white grain. Red grain varieties resist sprouting in the head, and hard and soft grain varieties are suitable for forage. The most important first step in your fertilizer management program is to take a soil sample. Except for nitrogen (N), your fertilizer and lime decisions will be based on the soil test results. It is advantageous to take the sample as soon as possible after harvest of the previous crop to supply the necessary phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) for the new developing wheat plant seedling.

Nutritional Requirements

Nitrogen

Regarding small grains, a slight lack of nitrogen is much less damaging than an excess of nitrogen.
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Nitrogen fertilization input can be calculated using the balance method. An excess of nitrogen fertilizer will result in an overdevelopment of the vegetation and this could potentially delay grain filling. For nitrogen fertilization it is preferable to favor a fractionation in 2 or 3 applications in order to avoid the excesses that are associated with a single application (leaching and excessive incorporation). A more gradual entry of nitrogen into the plant also helps reduce the risk of some diseases. When using nitrogen fertilizers combined with inhibitors (of urease and nitrification) it is possible to run with two applications and still maintain a low risk of leaching.

Phosphorus

Because phosphorus is not so mobile, and is generally only available close to the root ( < 2mm), it must be delivered in a localized manner.
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This will favor a rapid development of the root system. Orthophosphate forms that are immediately assimilable are preferred. For the polyphosphate forms, the chemical properties of the soil (pH and cation contents) along with moisture content will influence the rate at which it is broken down, over a period of few weeks, giving in a regulated release of phosphorus to the crop. This can be particularly effective in starter fertilizers for seedling crops. The soil properties will also influence to what extent the phosphorus is transformed into assimilable forms or, on the contrary, blocked, in particular by iron, aluminium or calcium. Apart from stimulating root development, phosphorus is also a key element when it comes to improving the firmness of the stems, helping to reduce the risk of damage to the crop.

Potassium

Potassium (K) is also of importance and the form of potassium fertilizer can have an impact on the quality of the crop.
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Potassium plays a key role in the absorption of cations. One of its main roles involves the translocation of carbohydrates and proteins to the reserve organs. It is essential for the transfer of assimilates towards the grains. Potassium is the key nutrient when it comes to maintaining cell turgor and stomatal regulation. Potassium is also a key element in terms of helping to improve the resistance of plants against frost and drought and against diseases. This is because it is an activator of several enzymatic systems. Potassium chloride and nitrate fertilizers can suffer leaching, particularly when they are applied prior to planting of the crop (in some cases this can occur up to two months before planting). It is important to understand the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil in order to supply the correct quantities and ratios of nutrients. Furthermore, chloride present in potassium chloride and certain other fertilizers, often in excessive and detrimental quantities, competes with nitrates and promotes the development of soft tissue. In the field, one can expect potential issues relating to salinity in cases where there is low rainfall.

Sulfur

Nowadays, sulfur deficiencies are increasingly observed due to the significant reduction in the atmospheric deposition of sulfur.
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Sulfur is best provided in the sulfate or thiosulfate form, since elemental sulfur is not soluble and will hence will only become available to the crop after an extended period of time (when it has been transformed to a soluble, plant available form). The effect of sulfur on the protein and wet gluten contents of small grains was not always one-directional, but in all trials the gluten index increased and the quality of protein improved under the influence of sulfur. Sulfur fertilization increased the content of amino acids in the protein of small grains in field trials on average as follows: cysteine by +24.5%, methionine by +35.3%, threonine by +14.4% and lysine by +7.7%. Due to sulfur fertilization all major parameters of small grains baking quality improved: stability and quality number of dough, loaf volume and specific volume and round loaf’s height-to-diameter ratio. As to the baking properties of small grains, not only the protein and wet gluten contents are important parameters of baking quality, but also the quality of protein, including the proportion of sulfur-containing amino acids. Thus, in the production of bread-making small grains sulfur deficiency should be avoided whenever possible.

Calcium

Calcium also improves resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.
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In order to optimize yield and quality, calcium must be readily available in the soil near roots. Calcium is essential for cell elongation and division, calcium is important for structure and permeability of cell membranes, calcium enhances uptake of nitrate and thus, influences nitrogen metabolism and calcium also regulates cation uptake. For example, K+ = Na+ uptake under low Ca2+, but K+ >> Na+ uptake under adequate Ca2+. Soluble calcium can also help flocculate the soil, improving its water retention capacity, thus enhancing nutrient bio-availability.

Magnesium

A supply of magnesium is often beneficial in poorly supplied soils or in the case of significant potassium uptake.
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Magnesium must be accompanied by zinc, manganese and boron, which become less available in soils with a basic pH (>7). In some cases, foliar inputs from the beginning of the growth are justified. These four elements are involved in the development of the leaf mass and they have a subsequent impact on the quality of grain development and filling. They must be available from the beginning of growth in order to fully play their role. For non-mobile elements (Mn, Zn, S, B), care should be taken to ensure that they are available from the first days of leaf growth. This is because translocation within the plant is severely limited. It is important to maintain a K/Mg ratio of approximately 3/1 in the soil.

Use the nutritional requirement table to estimate your fertilizer applications across crop growth stages and achieve healthy fruit development and yield potential

Our Solutions

Thio-Sul®

Thio-Sul® is the original liquid ammonium thiosulfate fertiliser, supplying 12% nitrogen (N) and 26% sulfur (S) in a clear, stable solution.
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Each litre of Thio-Sul provides approximately 160 g of nitrogen and 346 g of sulfur, delivering a concentrated and efficient source of both nutrients. Its liquid formulation is easy to handle and integrates readily into modern crop nutrition programmes across a wide range of crops and production systems.

By supplying nitrogen and thiosulfate sulfur together, Thio-Sul helps maintain an appropriate nitrogen-to-sulfur balance, supports protein formation and promotes more efficient use of applied nitrogen. Its sulfur becomes available progressively as thiosulfate is converted in the soil, helping support crop nutrition throughout key growth stages.

Thio-Sul can be applied through irrigation systems, banded, broadcast, injected into the soil or incorporated into compatible liquid fertiliser blends. This application flexibility makes it a practical solution for improving sulfur nutrition and complementing nitrogen fertilisation.

P-Sure®

P-Sure® is a high-quality liquid ammonium polyphosphate (APP) fertilizer, containing 10% nitrogen (N) and 34% phosphate (P₂O₅), that provides nitrogen and phosphorus in a concentrated, chloride-free formulation.
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By combining both orthophosphate and polyphosphate phosphorus, P-Sure delivers immediately available phosphorus while maintaining phosphorus availability after application. Its excellent physical stability, low salting-out temperature and long storage life make P-Sure an ideal foundation for modern liquid fertilizer programmes.
 

P-Sure promotes rapid root development, vigorous early crop establishment and efficient nutrient uptake during the critical stages of plant growth. The polyphosphate fraction also helps maintain the availability of micronutrients such as zinc, iron and manganese, supporting balanced nutrition and improved crop performance.

P-Sure is highly compatible with many liquid fertilizers, except calcium-containing products, and is ideal for starter fertilizers, fertigation and custom liquid blends. It combines particularly well with KTS® to produce efficient liquid NPKS formulations, providing growers with a flexible solution for precision crop nutrition.

CaTs®

CaTs® is a clear, chloride-free liquid calcium thiosulfate fertiliser containing 6% calcium (Ca) and 10% sulfur (S).
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Each litre of CaTs supplies approximately 75 g of calcium and 125 g of sulfur, providing both nutrients in a fully soluble liquid form. CaTs combines crop nutrition with soil-management benefits and can be incorporated into a broad range of fertilisation programmes.

Calcium contributes to cell-wall strength, root development and the structural integrity of growing plant tissues, while sulfur supports protein and enzyme formation. A consistent calcium supply is especially important during periods of rapid vegetative growth and fruit development, helping support crop quality, firmness and marketability.

CaTs can be applied through irrigation systems, banded, broadcast or blended with compatible liquid fertilisers. It may also be used as a soil amendment to provide soluble calcium, support soil aggregation and water infiltration, and help manage the effects of excess sodium in saline or sodic soils.

K-Leaf®

K-Leaf® is a high-purity, water-soluble sulphate of potash fertiliser developed specifically for foliar application.
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Its fine crystalline formulation dissolves rapidly and completely, producing a clean spray solution with minimal residue. This makes K-Leaf particularly suitable for precision spraying and for situations in which crops require a rapid supplementary supply of potassium and sulfur.

Applied directly to the foliage, K-Leaf helps prevent or correct potassium and sulfur deficiencies during critical growth stages. Potassium supports water regulation, photosynthesis, carbohydrate movement and crop quality, while sulfur contributes to protein synthesis and essential metabolic processes.

K-Leaf can supplement soil fertilisation when nutrient uptake through the roots is restricted or when crop demand temporarily exceeds soil supply. It is suitable for a wide range of broad-acre, fruit and vegetable crops and can be combined with many compatible soluble fertilisers and crop-protection products following a compatibility test.

GranuPotasse®

GranuPotasse® is a premium granular sulfate of potash (SOP) fertilizer containing 50% potash (K₂O) and 18% sulfur (S) in the readily available sulfate form.
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The chloride-free, nitrogen-free formulation of GranuPotasse provides an efficient source of potassium and sulfur, making it ideal for chloride-sensitive crops and high-value production systems. The uniform, free-flowing granules ensure accurate spreading, easy handling and consistent field performance.

By supplying potassium and sulfur in readily available forms, GranuPotasse supports water regulation, enzyme activation, carbohydrate transport and protein synthesis, helping improve crop yield, quality and marketability. It is particularly beneficial for fruit, vegetable and other high-value crops where crop quality, storage life and export potential are essential.

GranuPotasse® is suitable for pre-plant, basal and in-season applications and can be broadcast, banded or incorporated into the soil. It also blends readily with many granular fertilizers, providing growers with a flexible solution for balanced potassium and sulfur nutrition across a wide range of cropping systems.

Application Method

application method

Wheat

Download the application chart to learn when and how to apply our fertilizers for maximum crop performance

Additional Information